Sun, sand and fun

Sand Sculpture Contest draws many creative competitors

PENTWATER — Creative ideas, enthusiastic competitors and another large crowd made the 53rd annual Pentwater Sand Sculpture Contest a highlight of Pentwater’s 2026 Homecoming weekend.

Sponsored by the Pentwater Service Club, the longtime community tradition brought children, families and teams to the sugar-sand beach of Charles Mears State Park, where competitors transformed little more than sand and water into everything from castles and mermaids to aquariums, miniature golf courses and imaginative tributes to Pentwater.

“It’s been more than a half-century since the Pentwater Service Club began sponsoring this popular Homecoming weekend event,” said Glenn Beavis, who managed the competition for the club. “What makes it especially rewarding is seeing new generations of families participating in a tradition that has become such an important part of Pentwater’s Homecoming.”

The contest dates back to 1973, meaning some of the children competing today have grandparents who were their age when the first sculptures were created on the Charles Mears State Park beach.

Four age divisions and three family/group categories made up this year’s competition. 

First-place winners were: Liske, 1–7 year olds, for Water of Pentwater; The Mlinarich, 8–9 year olds, for The Memory Maker; Madison Rediske, 10–12 year olds, for Pentwater Put Put Course; Slotsemal Kids, 13 and older, for A Reel Good Time; Strand Family, Group/Family A, for Pig Dinner; Cozy Corner, Group/Family B, for Pentwater Rocks; and Grains of Grit, Group/Family C, for King of Pentwater.

Competitors arrived with everything from buckets and shovels to concrete trowels, spray bottles, carts and wheelbarrows. But imagination remained the most important tool of the day.

“The Sand Sculpture Contest represents exactly the kind of community tradition the Pentwater Service Club is proud to support,” said PSC President Rob Cunningham. “For more than 50 years, it has brought generations of families together for a day of creativity and fun. Seeing the children, parents and grandparents working together—and seeing so many residents and visitors enjoying what they create—is what makes this event so special.”

Every participant was recognized with either a trophy or participation ribbon, continuing the service club’s tradition of making the contest as much about participation and fun as competition.

The Pentwater Sand Sculpture Contest is one of numerous events held during the community’s annual Homecoming celebration and has become one of the weekend’s longest-running traditions.

Article and photos provided by Pentwater Service Club

___________________________________

Please Support Local News Coverage

For generations, local newspapers were supported by subscriptions. Today, while Mason County Press and Oceana County Press remain free to everyone, the cost of producing quality local journalism continues to rise.

If you value independent local news coverage, we invite you to help sustain it by subscribing to the MCP/OCP Daily Briefing for $12 a month — about 40 cents a day — or $120 a year.

Your subscription helps support the reporters, photographers and editors who cover local government, schools, community events, sports, breaking news and the stories that matter most to Mason and Oceana counties. In return, you’ll receive the MCP/OCP Daily Briefing each morning with the day’s headlines, along with occasional breaking news and special email editions.

Monthly subscriptions are available for $12 per month.
Click here to subscribe monthly. 

Annual subscriptions are available for $120 per year.
Click here to subscribe annually.

If you prefer to pay by check, mail your $120 annual payment to:

Media Group 31, LLC
P.O. Box 21
Scottville, MI 49454

Please include your name, mailing address, email address and telephone number so we can activate your subscription.

Subscription payments must be received before service is activated.

Whether you choose to subscribe or continue enjoying our free content, thank you for reading Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. Your readership—and your support—helps ensure that independent local journalism remains available to everyone in our communities.

This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2026 by Media Group 31, LLC, P.O. Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. All rights reserved. No portion of this story or its images may be reproduced in any form, including print, broadcast or electronic media, without the express written permission of Media Group 31, LLC.

As a news organization, Media Group 31 maintains published content as part of the public and historical record. Accordingly, stories are not removed after publication. At the editor’s discretion, stories may be updated or corrected as new information becomes available. Updates may be made by revising the original story or by publishing a follow-up story. Media Group 31, LLC reserves the right to modify this policy at any time. Please refer to our Use Policy for additional information.